Influence of tonsillar disease on the expression of J chain by immunoglobulin-producing cells in human palatine and nasopharyngeal tonsils.
A significant reduction of the percentage of J-chain-positive intra- and extra-follicular IgA immunocytes was found in inflamed palatine tonsils. There was a tendency to similar alterations in hypertrophied adenoids. Tonsillar disease apparently enhances local maturation of the B-cell system, perhaps on the basis of intensified proliferation of memory clones. Alternatively, there may be a disease-associated defect in the mechanism(s) that normally induced switchover to the IgA isotype early in clonal development. It is speculated that, by decreasing the J-chain expression during local B-cell differentiation, tonsillar disease may jeopardize the potential of the tonsils as a putative precursor source for the secretory immune system of the upper aero-digestive tract.
D000234:Adenoids / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000276:immunology; D007144:Immunoglobulin J-Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000276:immunology*
D007144:Immunoglobulin J-Chains